Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) Director Susan Decker Sells 458 Shares of Stock

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) Director Susan Decker sold 458 shares of Costco Wholesale stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $955.00, for a total value of $437,390.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,532 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,148,060. This trade represents a 5.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link.

Costco Wholesale Stock Performance

Shares of Costco Wholesale stock opened at $964.26 on Wednesday. Costco Wholesale Corporation has a 52 week low of $844.06 and a 52 week high of $1,078.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $896.67 and a 200-day moving average price of $929.57. The company has a market cap of $428.01 billion, a PE ratio of 51.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.77 and a beta of 1.02.

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, December 11th. The retailer reported $4.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.27 by $0.07. Costco Wholesale had a return on equity of 29.35% and a net margin of 2.96%.The business had revenue of $67.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $67.03 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $4.04 earnings per share. Costco Wholesale’s revenue was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Costco Wholesale Corporation will post 18.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Costco Wholesale Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 30th. Costco Wholesale’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.85%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

COST has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Costco Wholesale from $1,125.00 to $1,000.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research report on Friday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Hovde Group initiated coverage on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Tuesday, November 18th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $16.00 price target for the company. Finally, Roth Capital set a $769.00 price objective on Costco Wholesale and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Twenty-one research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $996.00.

Trending Headlines about Costco Wholesale

Here are the key news stories impacting Costco Wholesale this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Warehouse expansion and faster new-store ramp-ups signal durable growth runway and better utilization of sites, supporting long-term sales and membership gains. Costco’s Warehouse Expansion Strategy Fuels Long-Term Growth
• Positive Sentiment: Retail sales momentum: December sales came in strong and helped extend a recent rally — reinforces resilient traffic and membership trends that drive recurring revenue. Costco Stock Rallies on December Sales
• Positive Sentiment: Card benefits improved: Costco has quietly boosted gas rewards for co-branded cardholders (to 5% at Costco pumps), a member incentive likely to help retention and spend. Costco quietly boosts gas rewards for branded credit card holders
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst/visitor pieces highlight Costco as a durable long-term holding (strong member loyalty, steady comps) but flag a high valuation and moderate growth that may limit near-term upside from current levels. Useful for long-term investors evaluating entry price. Is Costco Stock a Long-Term Buy for Everyday Investors?
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand/supplier shift: Costco is switching its food-court beverage supplier back to Coca‑Cola after a decade with Pepsi — a merchandising/partnership change with limited near-term financial impact but some margin/brand implications. Costco Switches Food Court Back to Coke After Decade With Pepsi
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: Director Susan L. Decker sold 458 shares (~$955 avg), reducing her stake — a small disclosed sale that some investors view negatively as timing/insight into valuation. Susan L. Decker Insider Sale
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive pressure: Coverage notes a large grocery rival launching an expansion push — increased competition could pressure share gains or margins in some markets over time. Huge Costco grocery rival launches expansion plans

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Costco Wholesale

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Peterson Wealth Services boosted its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Peterson Wealth Services now owns 13,616 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $13,479,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Fishman Jay A Ltd. MI grew its holdings in shares of Costco Wholesale by 3.5% in the second quarter. Fishman Jay A Ltd. MI now owns 16,888 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $16,718,000 after purchasing an additional 575 shares during the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated increased its stake in shares of Costco Wholesale by 49.3% in the third quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated now owns 3,780 shares of the retailer’s stock worth $3,499,000 after buying an additional 1,248 shares during the period. Permanent Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Costco Wholesale in the third quarter worth $874,000. Finally, Wealthspire Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Costco Wholesale by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 15,799 shares of the retailer’s stock valued at $15,640,000 after buying an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.48% of the company’s stock.

Costco Wholesale Company Profile

Costco Wholesale Corporation operates a global chain of membership-only warehouse clubs that sell a wide array of merchandise in bulk at discounted prices. The company’s product mix includes groceries, fresh and frozen food, household goods, electronics, apparel, and seasonal items, augmented by its prominent private-label brand, Kirkland Signature. Costco’s business model centers on annual membership fees and high-volume, low-margin sales, designed to drive repeat purchasing and strong customer loyalty among both consumers and small-business buyers.

Beyond merchandise, Costco provides a range of ancillary services that complement its warehouses, including gasoline stations, pharmacy and optical services, hearing aid centers, photo services, and travel and insurance products.